Thesis (M. Med.(Family Medicine))--University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2010. / Background: The control of STIs remains a priority for the WHO. Health – seeking and sexual behaviors are important elements in the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Aim: To assess health seeking behavior in relation to STIs amongst community members of Nkomazi East area of Mpumalanga who use Tonga hospital’s feeder clinics and comprehensive health centers. Study Design: This was a quantitative research carried out as a non-experimental, descriptive cross-sectional survey employing the use of questionnaires for data collection. Questionnaires covering social, demographic, and healthcare-seeking and sexual behaviour information were administered to 332 patients attending primary care clinics in Nkomazi East area of Mpumalanga. Results: Majority of the participants were single, literate, unemployed blacks aged between 16 – 23 years (43.7%). Participants displayed an exceptionally high STI knowledge with urethral discharge, painful micturition, vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain the most recognised STI symptoms. All the participants (100%) sought help on perceiving that they have an STI. Preferred source of help is the public health sector with traditional healers also finding some relevance. While compliance to treatment is largely satisfactory, ongoing unsafe sexual practices with active STI seem to be common place. Conclusion: Participants displayed a high knowledge of STI symptoms and signs. Public health facilities were the preferred source of health. Health seeking seemed to be influenced by multiple factors. Financial consideration was not much of a factor while seeking help compared to accessibility to health facility and stigma or shame. Belief system, influence by family members, friends and partners were also important factors influencing health seeking behaviour

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T17:26:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maira.pdf: 473454 bytes, checksum: 2a91b28b6539ba5a25fa6b034f9beca5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-13 / This article has as a purpose to know the prevention politics for Sexual Transmitted Diseases/SIDA of the Ministry of Health of Brazil, proposed to teenagers, and, supported on this analysis, to evaluate the impact suffered for them. As a methodology, the researcher used as a procedure the qualitative research, recording interviews. These interviews were made in two schools from Pelotas, with 12-18 year teenagers, selected without any specific criteria. Then, the researchers analyzed the content of the interviews, limiting this not only to analysis on the teenagers recognition of the prevention politics, but also on the changes needed to this behavior become effective. The collected data was transcripted in order to a posterior examination and classified into categories. These categories were emerged from the oral interviews. The investigators observed the existence of differences between the proposed politics and the developed actions, thus not contributing to adoption of less risky health behaviors. The results showed that the basis of all prevention politics may be centered in a citizen building / Este trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer as políticas de prevenção a DSTs/HIV do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, propostas a adolescentes, e, com base nessa análise, avaliar os impactos que tais políticas exercem sobre eles. Para tanto, procedeu-se a uma pesquisa qualitativa, usando-se entrevistas gravadas como método. Estas foram realizadas em duas escolas na cidade de Pelotas, com adolescentes em idade de 12 a 18 anos, selecionados de forma aleatória. Fundamentando-se no exame do conteúdo dos depoimentos, procurou-se delimitar o reconhecimento, pelos adolescentes, das políticas o desenvolvidas com esse intuito, bem como identificar as mudanças desencadeadas a um comportamento preventivo eficaz. Os dados coletados foram transcritos a fim de posterior exame e classificação das categorias que emergiram das falas. Observou-se a existência de uma dissociação entre as políticas propostas e as ações desenvolvidas, e, desta maneira, não contribuindo para adoção de comportamentos menos arriscados à saúde. Os resultados apontaram que a base de todo trabalho de prevenção, visando à mudança de comportamento, deve estar centrado na construção da cidadania, objetivando atingir seu propósito

The college student population has a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI)s due to their participation in higher risk sexual behaviors such as serial relationships, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and inconsistent use of condoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student exposure of sexual education and their sexual behaviors among college going students in Virginia. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative cross-sectional study involved a random selection process to recruit college students to test the hypothesis. The research questions were designed to examine participants' exposure to sexual education, sexual behaviors, perceptions of contracting STIs with no condom use, and their perceptions of STI education added to college curriculums. The sample included 656 participants who ranged between 18-24 years old and were enrolled in a Virginia 4-year public university. Data were collected through an online survey. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the variables sexual education (independent) and sexual behaviors (dependent). Prior research has indicated that STI prevention education programs implemented within a schools' curriculum has assisted in bridging the gap between public health and education. The study results have shown that the students who had some form of sexual education and were sexually active are less likely to participate in risky sexual practices. The study also indicated that 92.5% of the participants perceive that adding STI courses to the college curriculum will help prevent STIs among college students. These results highlight the sexual health of Virginia college students and promote positive social change among Virginia's college campuses by identifying the inconsistencies of STI knowledge and practices, which can encourage better education.

<p>Kondomanvändning vid sexuella kontakter har en betydande roll för att hindra utbredningen av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. I föreliggande studie har fokus legat på att undersöka högskolestudenters attityder till kondomanvändning. För att finna svar på frågeställningarna genomfördes en enkätundersökning på den utvalda högskolan. Totalt deltog 287 studenter som besvarat enkäten vilken bestod av frågor kring kondomanvändning vid sexuellt umgänge med sin partner samt vid tillfälliga sexuella relationer. Resultatet från enkätundersökningen har sammanställts och analyserats statistiskt. Undersökningen visade att studenter hade överlag en positiv attityd till att använda kondom samt ansåg att en diskussion bör föras tillsammans med sin partner om kondomanvändning. Studenterna ansåg att den främsta anledningen till att kondom inte användes var att den var avtändande i den sexuella situationen och resultatet visade även att studenterna använde kondom huvudsakligen för att förhindra sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. Studenters attityder till kondomanvändning var positiv men för att minska spridning av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar krävs en beteendeförändring som kan ske genom en förändring av normer och värderingar.</p> / <p>Condom use during sexual contacts has a significant role in preventing expansion of sexual transmitted diseases. The focus in this study has been to examine collegestudents attitudes towards condom use. A survey was performed on 287 students at the chosen college. The survey contained questions regarding condom use during sexual relations with a partner and during casual sexual relations. The results from the survey were statisticly analyzed and showed that students had a positive attitude towards condom use. They also thought it was important to have a discussion between the two partners regarding condom use. The students thought that the main reason that condoms were not used during sexual relations was because it led to a sexual turn off. The study also showed that if a condom was used it was primarily to prevent sexual transmitted diseases. Students attitudes towards condom use were positive, but to reduce sexual transmitted diseases from spreading there has to be a change in behavior and this can only be change through a change in norm and values.</p>

Kondomanvändning vid sexuella kontakter har en betydande roll för att hindra utbredningen av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. I föreliggande studie har fokus legat på att undersöka högskolestudenters attityder till kondomanvändning. För att finna svar på frågeställningarna genomfördes en enkätundersökning på den utvalda högskolan. Totalt deltog 287 studenter som besvarat enkäten vilken bestod av frågor kring kondomanvändning vid sexuellt umgänge med sin partner samt vid tillfälliga sexuella relationer. Resultatet från enkätundersökningen har sammanställts och analyserats statistiskt. Undersökningen visade att studenter hade överlag en positiv attityd till att använda kondom samt ansåg att en diskussion bör föras tillsammans med sin partner om kondomanvändning. Studenterna ansåg att den främsta anledningen till att kondom inte användes var att den var avtändande i den sexuella situationen och resultatet visade även att studenterna använde kondom huvudsakligen för att förhindra sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar. Studenters attityder till kondomanvändning var positiv men för att minska spridning av sexuellt överförbara sjukdomar krävs en beteendeförändring som kan ske genom en förändring av normer och värderingar. / Condom use during sexual contacts has a significant role in preventing expansion of sexual transmitted diseases. The focus in this study has been to examine collegestudents attitudes towards condom use. A survey was performed on 287 students at the chosen college. The survey contained questions regarding condom use during sexual relations with a partner and during casual sexual relations. The results from the survey were statisticly analyzed and showed that students had a positive attitude towards condom use. They also thought it was important to have a discussion between the two partners regarding condom use. The students thought that the main reason that condoms were not used during sexual relations was because it led to a sexual turn off. The study also showed that if a condom was used it was primarily to prevent sexual transmitted diseases. Students attitudes towards condom use were positive, but to reduce sexual transmitted diseases from spreading there has to be a change in behavior and this can only be change through a change in norm and values.